AU2003100510A4 - A Magnetic Therapy Blanket - Google Patents

Description

A MAGNETIC THERAPY BLANKET Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to magnetic therapy articles and in particular to magnetic therapy items for use when sleeping.

Background Art.

It is recognized that selective placement of magnets on humans has had some therapeutic effects on the treatment of various ailments such as arthritis and circulatory problems. Various biomagnet therapy devices now come in the form of wraps, bands or blankets.

It is now known and recognized that selective placement on strategic locations of humans has had some positive influence on the treatment of various ailments, including arthritic conditions and circulatory problems. Dr. Kazuo Shimodaira of the Tokyo Communications Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, published a report entitled, "Clinical Studies On Magnetized Mattresses" which summarized the study of therapeutic effects of the magnetized health mattress of Nippon Athletic Industry Co., Ltd. He concluded, based on studies in two hospitals with 375 patients, that the magnetized health mattress proved to be effective on neck and shoulder pain (stiff shoulder), lower back pain, back pain, lower limbs pain, insomnia, and fatigue, with no observed side effects. Dr. Robert Lang, likewise, published a report entitled, "Bio-Magnetic Therapy--New Applications For Treatment of Pain, Fatigue and Sleep Disorders" which supports the use of biomagnetics for ailing patients. Vincent Ardizzone published a brief paper in October, 1992 entitled, "The New Flexible Magnetic Pads--Not Just New and Different, but Better", which describes deeper penetration into the human body using checkerboard patterns.

Generally, the magnets are arranged in patterns relative to the body of the person to be treated. Circular or spiral patterns cannot be expanded indefinitely in size to cover large areas of a patient's body. As a circular pattern is scaled to larger sizes, the circumferential extent of each area of one polarity increases to the point where it is no longer effective to induce any changes in magnetic flux. For example, in the concentric case, each ring becomes very large at a distance spaced from the center, so large that an underlying blood vessel oriented tangentially of the pattern can travel a substantial distance without crossing a magnetic polarity boundary. The same thing can happen in the angular or radial pattern. Additionally, as the angular or radial pattern is enlarged, the lengths of segments increase so that a blood vessel, aligned lengthwise of the segment, does not necessarily cross areas of alternating polarity.

Second, the patterns of magnets attached directly to blankets in the prior art are permanently fixed in place to them by either sewing or gluing.

This direct attachment method means that the blanket becomes heavy.

When wet for example when washing the blanket, it can become extremely heavy. The magnets attached externally in particular ceramic magnets, can also be damaged due to impacts if they are not protected from them.

Accordingly, a need remains for a design for a therapeutic magnetic sheet having a pattern that will cross a user's body with a high probability over a large area while being adapted to be oriented freely on a patient's skin and used when the user is laying in a supine condition.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

Summary of the Invention.

The present invention is directed to a magnetic therapy blanket, which may at least partially overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In a broad form, the invention resides in a magnetic therapy blanket for therapeutic use by application to a body surface location, comprising an outer casing with an opening therein to an interior of the casing and an insert which can be inserted and removed from the interior of the casing characterised in that the insert mounts a plurality of spaced apart magnets.

The pattern of magnets may preferably be a regular repeating pattern. The pattern may have areas of alternating magnetic polarity. The insert may be a flexible sheet composed of a flexible material having imbedded or attached particles of a permanent magnetic material therein.

The magnetic material may be magnetized in an orientation normal to the planar surface of the sheet with a first polarity defining the first area and a second polarity opposite the first polarity defining the second area.

The flexible cover material may be selected from the group consisting of natural woven material, synthetic woven material, blends of natural and synthetic material, natural non-woven material, synthetic nonwoven material and combinations thereof. The magnets may be arranged in alternating pole or checkerboard patterns, may be bar magnets, magnetic pads (plastic-coated), or concentric ring magnets. They may be ceramicbased magnets, or ferrite magnets.

In one embodiment, the insert may have magnets arranged in a pattern which includes one or more linear portions for placement upon a particular area of the body of a user.

The casing may be in the form of a blanket, pillowcase, duvet, a quilt, quiltcover, or any form of item used in association with a bed. It is particularly preferred that the casing be or include a pillow case or an underblanket. They may be made of synthetic materials or natural materials or combinations of these and may be woven or non-woven. They may be wool, cotton, polyester, leather, alpaca, or any other covering material and may even be insulated.

The magnets may be sewn in or pocketed or heat sealed within a pocket or otherwise attached by any available known means. They could even have thread holes and be sewn on like buttons. In some preferred embodiments, the insert may be multilayered and the magnets are positioned and hold by stitching or pocketing, therebetween. The magnets may be glued to the insert.

At least some of the magnets may be removable from the insert in order to adjust the strength of the magnetic field. Alternatively, the entire insert may be removed from the casing and reversed. The adjustment of the magnetic field strength may allow a person time to adjust to the magnetic therapy.

The magnets may have powers selected in accordance with the size and needs of the user. For example, younger children may respond to 100 to 500 gauss magnets while adults may respond to 500 gauss to 1200 gauss or higher magnets. Typically, the magnets will be in the 200 to 1000 gauss range. They may be circular, rectangular, square or otherwise shaped and may be those which are commercially available.

The number and placement of the magnets will depend upon the user, the purpose or application and the size of the item which the insert is associated. The magnets may be arranged in predetermined patterns based on acupuncture locations. In general, if the item is for overall well-being and/or back problems, a spread of magnets may be appropriate. Other configurations may also be used, such as inserts in which the magnets are confined to a particular area of the insert for "spot" treatment or for use where a twin bed is used and only one of the persons is to be subjected to the magnetic therapy.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a magnetic underblanket according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 illustrates plan views of alternative layout of magnets when associated with different size bedding.

Detailed Description of the Invention.

According to the invention, a magnetic therapy blanket 10 is provided.

The magnetic therapy blanket 10 for therapeutic use by application to a body surface location is illustrated in Figure 1. The blanket shown is a fully fitted underblanket comprising an outer casing 11 with an opening 12 therein to an interior of the casing 11 and an insert 13 which can be inserted and removed from the interior of the casing 11. The insert 13 mounts a plurality of spaced apart magnets 15 to enable the magnetic fields generated by the magnets to treat the person using the blanket The pattern of magnets 15 is a regular repeating pattern as seen in Figure 2.

The insert 13 is a flexible sheet composed of a flexible material having embedded or attached particles of a permanent magnetic material therein. The magnetic material is magnetized in an orientation normal to the planar surface of the insert with a first polarity closest to the user's body and a second polarity opposite the first polarity positioned away from a user's body.

The flexible casing material is selected from the group consisting of natural woven material, synthetic woven material, blends of natural and synthetic material, natural non-woven material, synthetic nonwoven material and combinations thereof. The magnets 15 are ceramicbased magnets as these magnets generally have a stronger magnetic field for a given size than ferrite magnets.

In one embodiment, the insert 13 may have magnets arranged in a pattern which includes one or more linear portions for placement upon a particular area of the body of a user. As seen in Figure 2, the twin bed blankets 10 have an area of magnets 15 for each person.

The magnets 15 are glued to the insert but may be sewn in or pocketed or heat sealed within a pocket or otherwise attached to the insert.

The adjustment of the magnetic field strength may allow a person time to adjust to the magnetic therapy. With the magnets facing upwards, stronger magnetic fields are applied to a person's body than with the magnets facing downwards.

The number and placement of the magnets 15 will depend upon the user, the purpose or application and the size of the item which the insert is associated. The magnets 15 are arranged in predetermined patterns based on chequerboard locations with adjacent magnets orientated in alternating positive to negative patterns. In general, if the item is for overall well-being and/or back problems, a spread of magnets 15 is appropriate.

In use, the insert 13 is inserted into the casing 11 and associated with a blanket 10 or the like for magnetic therapy. The strength of the therapy can be adjusted. When the blanket 10 is to be washed, the insert 13 with the magnets 15 can be removed from the casing 11 through the opening 12 and the casing 11 washed. The insert 13 may be cleaned separately. This will lighten the casing 11 and/or the blanket 10 and also reduce the damage to the magnets 15 themselves which may occur.

In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (5)

1. A magnetic therapy blanket for therapeutic use by application to a body surface location, comprising an outer casing with an opening therein to an interior of the casing and an insert which can be inserted and removed from the interior of the casing characterised in that the insert mounts a plurality of spaced apart magnets.

2. The magnetic therapy blanket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the magnets are arranged in a regular repeating pattern.

3. The magnetic therapy blanket as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 lO wherein the magnets are oriented normally to the insert with alternating polarities between adjacent magnets.

4. The magnetic therapy blanket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the magnetic field applied to a person's body is able to be altered by upward or downwards facing orientation of the magnets of the blanket.

5. A magnetic therapy blanket substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 2 6 th day of June 2003 FOUREX ENTERPRISES PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.